Linus Project and Yarn Costs: Yearly Totals

In 2019 I spent a total of $313.26 on yarn.  My yarn is bought only at thrift stores.  I was gifted some, also.

With that yarn I made:  75 Linus Project Blankets
34 Operation Gratitude Scarves
32 Pet Blankets
10 red baby hats for the American Heart Association (they have ended this program)

I made a total of 141 projects and all things being equal, that averages out to $2.22/project.

In 2020 I will replace the baby hats with adult hats for Operation Gratitude.  Otherwise things will stay the same.

Household and Personal Care: Yearly Totals

Household:

We spent a total of $239.08.  That averages out to $20/ month.  I had only budgeted $10/month so we are WAY off.  Having to buy canning jars and lids is a big part of the overage.

I am going to budget $20/month for 2020 and live in hope.

Personal Care Expenses:  We spent $293.19 or $24.23 per month, just under the $25/month budgeted.I am going to leave the budget where it is and see what the year brings.

2020 Buying and Eating: February 1-15

Monthly Allocation:  $10.99x29=$318.71
Cushion:  $220.08

What We Ate: black bean soup and grilled cheese sandwiches; onion soup and chicken salad sandwiches; Swedish meatballs and rice, get and bread; chicken stir fry with rice, peaches and yogurt; seAfood pasta with broccoli and rolls; lentil/sausage meatloaf, potato skins, mixed vegetable; hotdog and sauerkraut casserole vegetable, bread;  taco salad; cheesy lasagna and garlic bread with salad; stroganoff and salad; grilled ham and cheese sandwiches with chips and dip; Mexican pizza and yogurt; soupa Toscana and bread;pork chops, Caesar salad, baked potato rounds, corn; leftovers


What We Bought:

Wal-Mart (RV ing):  French bread, wheat rolls, feta, bleu cheese, olives, bacon, Romaine lettuce, cucumber, croutons  $19.32Eating

Commissary:  lemon juice, croutons, toaster pastry, brown sugar,Indian curry paste Thai red curry paste, green curry paste, coffee   $20.12 ( still in RV)

Total:  $39.44


Eating Out:
Taco Bell lunch  $5.30
Lunch with Marge $11.14

Total:  $16.44

Grand Total:  $55.88

Remaining Allocation:  $262.83

2020 Meal Plan: February 1-15

Vegetarian:  cheesy lasagna

Low Meat: black bean soup and grilled cheese sandwiches; onion soup and chicken salad sandwiches;  chicken Stir fry with rice; seafood pasta; lentil/sausage meatloaf; hotdog and sauerkraut casserole; taco salad;  stroganoff and salad; soupa Toscana; leftovers

Meat:  Swedish meatballs; grilled ham and cheese sandwiches; Mexican pizza; pork chops

Vegetarian:  1
Low Meat:  10
Meat:  4

Not a good balance.  We have been eating from the freezer as we RV.

Clothing Expenses: Yearly Total

Well I proved it, I buy more clothes than Mike.

In 2O19 I bought 10 sweaters (WOW), 16 bras (I am set for a few years), 3 skirts, 3 tops,3 nightwear, 1 robe, boots, 2 shoes, 5 pairs of pantyhose.  A total of 44 items.

Mike bought slippers, sneakers, 10 white tee shirts, insoles, 2 heavy socks, and a new Navy hat.  He bought a total of 16 items.

I spent a total of $196.95 or an average of $16.41/month.  I am under the budget amount of $25/month/person.

Mike spent $64.78 or an average of $5.40/month.  He definitely makes me look like a big spender!

 But we both stayed within budget.  A good year.

Entertainment: Yearly Total

In 2019 we spent $$130.99 on entertainment.

That averages out to $10.92/month.  Most of that is for Prime Video.

Our per day average is 36 cents.

We relied heavily on borrowing items from our library:  movies, audio books, print items, items sent to our tablet.

We also enjoyed all the Free tv available through Roku.

2020 Household and Personal Care Expenses: January

Personal Care

Haircuts for Mike and Sandy  $22

Household Expenses:

Two fire and carbon monoxide detector  $49.99  Costco
New bed pillow  $6  Big Lots
Cleaning items  $18.45  Walmart
New oven gasket  $14.84  Amazon


Both are now budgeted at $25/month.  We are not off to a good start with Household Expenses.

2020 Frugal Things In January

1.  Free 8x10 from Walgreens $3.99 value.

2.  $15 in free food at Giant Eagle by having a new prescription sent there.

3.  Buying $24.54 worth of bread products at the bread store for $5.58 saving $18.96.

4.  Made cheery jelly from the liquid around the cherries used for cherry pie.  Something useful from something that would otherwise be wasted.